Vytautas Landsbergis, the first leader of post-independence Lithuania, suggests ignoring Russia's decision to open cases against Lithuanian prosecutors and judges hearing the January 13 case in Lithuania.

"The case is taking its own path without Russia's assistance. Russia believes it can impede it with some brutal interference. I believe our government should not react. As they can also launch cases against American prosecutors who are now prosecuting Russian spies," Landsbergis told BNS Lithuania.

Russia's law enforcement on Monday opened cases against Lithuanian judges and prosecutors hearing the January 13 case. The probe was launched based on an article of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation on "knowingly bringing an innocent person to criminal liability“.

A total of 67 people have been charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes in the January 13th case, with the majority of them standing trial in absentia. Lithuanian prosecutors have proposed sentencing former Soviet defense Minister Dmitry Yazov and several other army officers to life in prison.

Fourteen civilians were killed and hundreds more were wounded when the Soviet troops stormed the TV Tower and the Radio and Television Committee building in Vilnius in the early hours of Jan. 13, 1991.